The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-17
THE SEXTON'S FAMILY.
A Bold Stroke Made by Them in
Bramleigh.

Bramleigh people believe in blood and
sympathize deeply with those who have
seen better days; and so, when new
family appeared in town, the romance of
decayed gentility clinging even to the old,
carved. silver door-plate on the front door
ofthe humble cottage which it condescended
to occupy, BraInleigh went out to meet it
with open hands. 1t was very rarely that
any new family came to take up it's abode
in the place: and, as it was q quiet, old sea-
side town, where the people had either
made or inherited their fortunes long ago,
and had not much to engage their minds,
each newcomer excited curiosity and specu-
lation.
The Reveres fine name) were blessed
with interesting faces. They came with
the Juno roses, weary, they said, of the
fashionable city, with it's hollowness and
shams, and took to the sweet simplicity of
country life with grace ana gladness
which was touching to behold. And what
good taste they exhibited in seeking a home
in Bramleighl
Mr.. Revere, who wore tall beaver hat in
the most expensive state of decline, and a
fine black coat trife shiny on the seams,
was somewhat of an invalid He had Ian
gridIy elegant air, and long, white, aristo-
cratic-loolSing hands. Mrs. Revere was
IL.
ami was also rather delicate in health The
two Misses Revere young ladies of twenty
and twenty-five, had handsome, dark eyes,
were smiling, and adorned themselves, even
in TIA morning, with field daisies, and pct-
uresque mixtures of poppies and straw.
hey were both voted very stylish by all
eyoung gentlemen in town.
Hiss I;evere played on the guitar and
sang raby Nine" seated on the doorsteps
at twl Ght, and Miss Tessy, short for The
resa, lcrforIned upon the piano until the
whole neighborhood rang with melody.
Several smaller Reveres, of the interesting
age wien one seems mostly composed of
legs and sash-ribbons, were trife daring
in their manners on week days, and not 80
clean as fine in their attire. But on SUNDAY,
at church, they looked and behaved like
lie angels, 80 that all the old ladies in the
i.eighborhood held them up as an example to
the minister's little daughters, who had been
seen committing the enormity of playing
cat's-cradle in prayer time.
The Revere cottage was furnished with
severe and, it must be confessed, decidedly
shabby simplicity. They displayed no relics
of their days Of magnifcence, to which
Mrs. Revere was always pathetically allud-
ing, and which Mr.. Revere seemed to avoid
mentioning, as too sorrowful q memory,
though he had related the circumstances Of
his life when he first introduced himself to
the chief men of the town. This was rather
o disappointment to the ladies of the neigh
borhood, who made haste to call on the new
comers after hearing their history
81 suppose they saved some old china and
silver from the wreck of their fortune,
though" said Mrs. Allen, one OF the social
props OF the town, whose grandfather, an
old sea-captain, was said to have left ten
barrels Of Spanish silver dollars in his cell
lar when he died
But Mrs. Revere says that they still
possess quite large property in real es-
tate; but that it is SO tied up that 1t brings
them scarcely any income at ALL" said Mrs.
Trelis, the doctors wife.
:. oor souls, 1t must be so hard for them, +"
s'Gaed Mrs Allen. What shame it is
tIat those elegant girls, so delic.tely
brought up, 30 handsome and accomplished,
should be obliged to go into the kitchen and
live a life go unsuited to them. They inner.
tied q great deal from Mrs. Revere's uncle,
whose estate is not settled yet. But sup
pose poverty does not seem so bitter when
one is sure that it will be over soon."
"Your nephew. Mr. Tom Stratton, seem.
TO be very much interested in Miss Tessy
/ saw him walking with her on the beach
yesterday" said Mrs. Trellis, who saw
every thing from her windows
':Indeed! Well, my nephew belongs IL
an old family, and has snug little fortune
in his own right already. He can wei
afford to wait for his wife's inheritance"
The Reyeres had been established onl,
about three weeks in their new abode befors
the people were very much touched. as wei
rs astonished, by the condescension dis
played by the head Of the house in applyinf
for the situation Of sexton Of the First Par
ish church Mr.. Swan, who had filed thu
place Tor many years, had resigned, sn(
was going West to live with one Of hi
sons
''Such an extremely idle life a. ] live il
not noble, and am not at all too proud Il
engage In any occupation which is honor
a'ie," he explained TO the descons, with !
geltle humility which was very becoming
s'Besidss, tits really necessary that I shouli
do little something toward the support O
my family just ct present."
CT course the position ives granted to hin
at once, though two Old members Of tn
church, faithful and deserving, had mad,
psevious applieattous.
10, havs M. Revere, by III means," sail
tie ladies of The pss,sh, With ons voioe
eHc's - oleGnnE end polite tAat u win b,
epleasure 70 - hin vslkiag up tie aisieG
Ttsa - tsRsse naay SAahibaabls viaitss'
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